An outbreak of Cryptosporidium parvum across England & Scotland associated with consumption of fresh pre-cut salad leaves, May 2012

McKerr, Caoimhe, Adak, Goutam K., Nichols, Gordon, Gorton, Russell, Chalmers, Rachel M., Kafatos, George, Cosford, Paul, Charlett, Andre, Reacher, Mark, Pollock, Kevin G., Alexander, Claire L. and Morton, Stephen (2015) An outbreak of Cryptosporidium parvum across England & Scotland associated with consumption of fresh pre-cut salad leaves, May 2012. PLoS One, 10 (5). ISSN 1932-6203

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Abstract

Background: We report a widespread foodborne outbreak of Cryptosporidium parvum in England and Scotland in May 2012. Cases were more common in female adults, and had no history of foreign travel. Over 300 excess cases were identified during the period of the outbreak. Speciation and microbiological typing revealed the outbreak strain to be C. parvum gp60 subtype IIaA15G2R1. Methods: Hypothesis generation questionnaires were administered and an unmatched case control study was undertaken to test the hypotheses raised. Cases and controls were interviewed by telephone. Controls were selected using sequential digit dialling. Information was gathered on demographics, foods consumed and retailers where foods were purchased. Results: Seventy-four laboratory confirmed cases and 74 controls were included in analyses. Infection was found to be strongly associated with the consumption of pre-cut mixed salad leaves sold by a single retailer. This is the largest documented outbreak of cryptosporidiosis attributed to a food vehicle.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 21 Mar 2016 23:06
Last Modified: 05 Jul 2023 13:30
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/57605
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125955

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